Metropolitan Alexander was born on [[May 18]], 1957 as Alexander Gennadiyevich Mogilev in Kirov, USSR, to a working class family, and was [[baptism|baptized]] in honor of St. [[Alexander Nevsky]]. He studied at Kirov secondary school № 14 from 1963 to 1974. He continued his education at the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy|Leningrad Theological Seminary]] from 1977 to 1979 and then continued at the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy|Leningrad Theological Academy]] from 1977 to 1980. After graduation he returned to Kirov to serve as the secretary to [[Bishop]] [[Chrysanthus (Chepil) of Kirov]] and Sloboda. On [[August 1]], 1983, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] and followed the next day a [[priest]] by Bp. Chrysanthus. In December 1983, he was appointed [[Ecclesiarch|sacristan]] and, in 1985, he was elevated to the rank of [[archpriest]]. From 1986 to 1989, he served as Secretary of the Diocesan Administration of Kirov.

Metropolitan Alexander was born on [[May 18]], 1957 as Alexander Gennadiyevich Mogilev in Kirov, USSR, to a working class family, and was [[baptism|baptized]] in honor of St. [[Alexander Nevsky]]. He studied at Kirov secondary school № 14 from 1963 to 1974. He continued his education at the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy|Leningrad Theological Seminary]] from 1977 to 1979 and then continued at the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy|Leningrad Theological Academy]] from 1977 to 1980. After graduation he returned to Kirov to serve as the secretary to [[Bishop]] [[Chrysanthus (Chepil) of Kirov]] and Sloboda. On [[August 1]], 1983, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] and followed the next day a [[priest]] by Bp. Chrysanthus. In December 1983, he was appointed [[Ecclesiarch|sacristan]] and, in 1985, he was elevated to the rank of [[archpriest]]. From 1986 to 1989, he served as Secretary of the Diocesan Administration of Kirov.

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On [[September 13]], 1989, Father Alexander was elected Bishop of Kostroma and Galich by the [[Holy Synod]] of the Russian Orthodox Church. On [[September 21]], Fr. Alexander was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Alexander, honoring St. Alexander of Svir. On [[September 24]], he was elevated to the rank of [[archimandrite]]. Then, on [[September 27]], he was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Kostroma and Galich in the Epiphany Cathedral of Moscow in a service celebrated by Metropolitan [[Vladimir (Sabodan) of Kiev|Vladimir (Sabodan) of Rostov and Novocherkassk, [[Chancellor]] of the Moscow Patriarchate]].

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On [[September 13]], 1989, Father Alexander was elected Bishop of Kostroma and Galich by the [[Holy Synod]] of the Russian Orthodox Church. On [[September 21]], Fr. Alexander was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Alexander, honoring St. Alexander of Svir. On [[September 24]], he was elevated to the rank of [[archimandrite]]. Then, on [[September 27]], he was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Bishop of Kostroma and Galich in the Epiphany Cathedral of Moscow in a service celebrated by Metropolitan [[Vladimir (Sabodan) of Kiev|Vladimir (Sabodan) of Rostov and Novocherkassk]], [[Chancellor]] of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In 1990, Bp. Alexander graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree in theology with a Thesis titled: "Martyr Nicodemus, Archbishop of Kostroma and Galich (1868-1938 gg.)". On [[February 25]], 1994, Bp. Alexander was elevated to the rank of [[archbishop]].

In 1990, Bp. Alexander graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree in theology with a Thesis titled: "Martyr Nicodemus, Archbishop of Kostroma and Galich (1868-1938 gg.)". On [[February 25]], 1994, Bp. Alexander was elevated to the rank of [[archbishop]].

In 1990, Bp. Alexander graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree in theology with a Thesis titled: "Martyr Nicodemus, Archbishop of Kostroma and Galich (1868-1938 gg.)". On February 25, 1994, Bp. Alexander was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

On March 5, 2010, Abp. Alexander was appointed Archbishop of Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. [1] On July 26, 2010, the Holy Synod established the Metropolitan District of the Republic of Kazakhstan as the Metropolia of Kazakhstan under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan of Astana and Almaty.[2] On July 28, 2010, at the Divine Liturgy celebrated at Kiev-Pechersk Lavra by PatriarchKirill, Abp. Alexander was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. On October 20, 2010, Metr. Alexander was elected to the Council of People's Assembly of Kazakhstan. On October 5, 2011, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church named Metr. Alexander a permanent member of the Holy Synod.[3]